Raleigh Ranked No. 2 in U.S. for Business and Careers

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High levels of in-migration. One of country's most educated labor forces (47 percent with a college degree). Business costs 12 percent below the national average. An employment forecast rated among the top 10 in the country.

These are some of the reasons why Forbes recently ranked Raleigh as the No. 2 "Best Place for Business and Careers" in the country for 2017.

Taking a top spot on the list is nothing new to Raleigh. Forbes called the city its "most consistent performer" in the annual survey, finishing in the top three each of the past 15 years.  Last year Raleigh grabbed the No. 3 spot in the report.

The article devotes an entire paragraph to news of Indian software firm Infosys' decision to locate one of its four new U.S. technology and innovation hubs here. Infosys will bring 2,000 jobs to the area by 2021, with the first 500 employees hired by the end of the year. Salaries will average $71,000, delivering a total payroll impact of more than $130 million each year to the community, once all positions are filled. The company plans to invest $8.73 million in Wake County as part of a project estimated to contribute $2.9 billion to North Carolina’s economy.

Infosys leaders emphasized four factors that helped them make their decision to set up shop in Raleigh: a talented workforce, diverse economy, vibrant startup community, and top-tier universities and community colleges. 

The Forbes report took into account information from Moody's Analytics, Sperling's Best Places, the U.S. Census Bureau, a profile developed by Cushman & Wakefield Strategic Consulting, and the Movement Advancement Project. Portland, Ore., with a population of 2.4 million, a strong economic outlook, and a talent surge, claimed the top spot this year. 

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Read the full Forbes report here. Keep up-to-date on the latest rankings for Raleigh and Wake County here.